OBESITY AND GUT MICROBIOTA: FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION

ISABEL M. QUESADA

MENDOZA

Congreso; XL REUNIÓN ANULA DE LA SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGÍA DE CUYO; 2022

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder caused by a variety of genetic and non-genetic factors (such as environmental factors), its incidence is increasing every year and it is considered a public health problem. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic occupied priority places in the guidelines during 2020-2021 in the national public health research agenda (ANISP) of the ArgentineMinistry of Health, non-communicable chronic diseases such as obesity and its related diseases continue to occupy the first places of priority. Obesity not only manifests as changes in appearance, but is also associated with lipid and glucose metabolism disorders, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The gut microbiota may be a relevant environmental factor in obesity and may be positively or negatively modulated by different lifestyle and dietary factors. In addition, microbial metabolites can induce epigenetic modifications, which would imply a susceptibility to obesity. Given the importance of nutrition in modulating the intestinal environment and its relationship with obesity, the objective of this conference is to show how the management of the intestinal microbiota can be used as a prevention or treatment method for obesity in the context of our country. In this conference, the results of our research group will be presented, which is focused on the study of the relationship between intestinal dysfunction, dysbiosis, and obesity, both in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models using animal models of obesity/metabolic syndrome and with patients with overweight/obesity and type 1 diabetes. It is important to direct scientific research efforts in order to respond to priority public health problems such as obesity and its related diseases.